Dorothee Elisabeth Lundgren
November 2, 1945 - June 3, 2014
Obituary
After a nineteen-year battle, Dorothee Elisabeth Lundgren died due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease on June 3, 2014.
Dorothee was born at home in Trier, Germany, on November 2, 1945 to Gertrude Kalker and Fritz Higger. She moved with her mother and stepfather, Eddie Coletti, to Great Falls, Montana in June of 1962. She attended Central Catholic High School and graduated in 1965. On April 12, 1966, she married Richard E. Lundgren. Later that year they moved to Spokane, Washington, which turned out to be only the first of many moves. Dorothee started selling Tupperware in 1973, and because of her enthusiastic and outgoing personality she became a manager and one of the top sellers in the country. Due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms in 1995, she had to give up her career. She will always be remembered for her loving playfulness and wit. Nobody ever knew what she was going to do or say next. The biggest joy of her life was her family. She loved to sing German lullabies to her grandchildren and did so until she could no longer remember them.
Family Members
- Richard Lundgren (husband)
- Christina (Kelly) Burnaby (Daughter)
- David (Sonja) Lundgren (Son)
- Kevin (Connie) Lundgren (Son)
Grandchildren
- Elisabeth
- Zachary
- Alyssa
- Emily
- Brendan
- Tabitha
- Johnathan
Siblings
- Dieter Coletti (Brother)
- Gerhardt Coletti (Brother)
- Robert (Anne) Coletti (Brother)
- Hannelore Baumgarten of Oldenburg, Germany (Sister)
- Gertrude Muller of Welver, Germany (Sister)
Parents
- Gertrude Coletti (Mother)
- Fritz Higger (Father)
- Eddie Coletti (Stepfather)
- Three close Aunts
Information on Dorothee’s life and her journey with Alzheimer’s disease can be found on www.opaandoma.us.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in her name to the Franciscan Foundation,
Franciscan Hospice & Palliative Care
PO Box 1502
Tacoma, Washington 98401
Or the
UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Attn: Pema Richeson UW Medicine Pathology
1959 NE Pacific St, Box 357470
Seattle, WA 98195.
We will all miss you, mom!
Wish Trevor and I could be there
You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers
Heaven has a new angel…
She was a wonderful lady and will be greatly missed by so many. I’m glad heaven finally called her home.
Wish I could be there.
Sympathy to all the family.
My heartfelt sympathy and Prayers to the Lundgren and Coletti Families! She has finally found Peace and has been released from the Darkness that surrounded her.
The end of a long, hard road. Rest in peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family….May God Bless you with Peace and Strength as you remember the good times with your special Angel.
My deep sympathy for all of you.
May eternal rest be upon her and may the angels meet you in paradise. I will keep you in my prayers as I celebrate the Holy Mass.
Fly with the Angels.
Prays are with you and your family, Dorothee. May your family know that you are loved.
Richard and family — The stars shine brighter now, with a new energy within them. Bless you for taking such good care of Dorothy for so many years. You are in my thoughts.
Sheila Rice Class of 65
Your sad loss is Heaven’s wonderful gain. Dorothee is whole again and free of the disease that robbed all of you of your great wife, Mother and Oma. My prayers are with you.
I first met Dorothee through Tupperware and she was a wonderful, energetic manager, encouraging and guiding by example. I enjoyed our friendship and visits to Dorothee and Dick’s home, until we moved to Chelan. You are covered in prayer as always and know that you are all loved.
The memories are just flowing. Walking home from high school and stopping in to see Dorothee’s baby brother Bobbie, to being a bridesmaid in the wedding. The trip to Spokane, when I slept in the basement under a down comforter. What a nice first experience. Dick, Dorothee, Christina and David at our wedding. The bus trip when Brian was nine months old and Troy was five to attend David’s First Communion in Billings,MT. You coming for Brian’s baptism.
Spending the night at your house in Boise at least once when we were visiting Clyde’s Family. I was so blessed to have all those happy time. I so wish I could travel to say goodbye. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Love and God Bless Jean Marie
Sending my thoughts and prayers to the Lundgren family. Your mother was such a positive light to so many and I will remember her fondly. She was such a sweet woman and meant a lot to me. She signed me up with TW when my oldest daughter was just a few months old…and that was 20 years ago now. Very wonderful memories of Dorothee and her family.
Sending thoughts and prayers to Dorothee and the entire Lundgren family. I met Dorothee through Tupperware. She always had a smile and quick wit. When I miscarried, Dorothee sent me a card with her tender words that really helped me get through that very tough time. She was an angel here on earth and now in heaven. RIP with all your wonderful memories, Dorothee. Thank you for all you gave!
I am so very sorry for the loss of your loved one. My mom just passed of Alzheimer’ s disease also, (Donna Mahoney) It is such a long painful journey of what they go threw. I was blessed to have special moments with mom, where I knew, she knew, who I was even when she could not communicate. Their spirt is still there. I know that God promises that He is close to the broken hearted. He also claims no more tears, no more fears, no more suffering. May God bless and hold you all in this time of sorrow.
Even though I never Dorthee personally, I knew her children. The quality of who they are spoke volumes about their Mother and Father. My heartfelt wishes go out to all the family for the loss of someone so special.
Dick – I hope you will remember me – I sold Tupperware with Dorothee in Billings (McCubbin was my married name at that time) For some reason today Dorothee came to my mind and I thought I’d see if I could find her on FaceBook – When I went to search I found all the information written about her disease – I am heartsick that I didn’t know sooner. She was always so good to me and wanted nothing but success for my future! I will always think of you and her with fond memories. My prayers are with you and your family.